Pregnant With Alpha’s Genius Twins

The boys then throw their heads back, wailing harder and I…

Well, I do something that, in retrospect, is probably very dumb.

But I gasp and smile broadly, my eyes shining as I lean forward, my voice breathless with joy. “Girls!?” I ask Alvin, thrilled. “They’re girls!?”

“See!” he shouts, staring daggers at me and leaping up from my lap. “You are happy they are girls! You will love them more!”

“No, I –“ I say, trying to wipe the smile from my face and failing.

“Mamaaa,” Ian moans, like his life is ending, slipping bonelessly from his father’s lap to fall in a puddle on the floor. “You will love them – you will forget about us –“

“I won’t, I promise I won’t!”

“You still have me!” Victor offers to the boys, putting out a hand towards him.

Betrayed, I spin on him, my mouth falling open. “What!” I gasp.

“Oh come on, Evelyn,” Victor says, raising his eyebrows seriously at me. “You’re totally going to love two little girls more –“

“What!?” I screech a hand going to my heart, honestly betrayed. “Not more!” I insist, working to say more, but my argument is drowned out but the growing cries of my two sons.

And then, I lose it. I just burst into laughter at the ridiculousness of the whole thing – about finding out that I’m pregnant with a second set of twins because my genius children can hear their sisters’ heartbeats, about being accused of keeping secrets, about Victor taking their side –

I’m shaking with laughter, unable to help myself, and I feel Victor’s arms warm around me, feel him laughing too. The boys continue to cry, but we just…

Well, maybe it’s bad parenting, but we just let them. They are in for a big change – maybe it’s normal for them to feel a little grief over it.

But a few minutes later, I feel little paws against my leg and open my eyes, my laughter abating a little, to see my Ian’s tear-stained face close to me.

“Come on, baby,” I murmur, helping him up onto the bed and into my lap. “Don’t be sad – I promise not to love them more than you.”

“Do you promise to love them less?” he asks, sniffing.

And I can’t help it. I lie. “Sure, baby,” I whisper, smoothing a hand over his hair. “Just for you, I’ll love them just a little tiny bit less. You’re my first babies, after all. It’s only fair.”

says, smug, and

the crew, climbs up into his father’s lap silently. And then we all sit for a minute,

have double this, I say to his mind, shaking my head a little. Double the crazy – double the emotions – what

wide at the suggestion. Stop – he says to me with a fervid little push. Let’s just – handle these two, and the two on the

my cheek on Ian’s hair, giving him a sniff and basking in the warmth

something occurs to

say carefully, not wanting to set him off again. “How did

at me curiously, his eyes drying up

I explain, watching him. “You can’t hear that in a

casually as if it’s obvious.

sharply down at his son. “You can mind-link

even have minds yet –“ I

me finish –“ Alvin interrupts, rolling his eyes at us. I press my lips together to keep from laughing, not imagining that he’d take that well in his current mood. I nod to him, letting him know that we want him

He hesitates, thinking.

must be too small,” Ian postulates, turning to look down at my belly. “We could…touch them. We knew that they

girls,” Alvin says, assured. “I don’t know

two could connect with each other because you were…well, because you’re twins. You’ve always been connected. I never thought that this kind of connection would extend

not knowing and perhaps

to mind-speak with girls

sure to make sure they were nice to their

up at Victor and me. “Can you go away

“What?” Victor asks, confused.

need a minute.” Ian says, his voice aloof as he sits up. “We have had a hard morning. We would like some alone time so that we can figure out how we

so that they can’t see just how cute I think that is. I don’t want them to think I’m being condescending because, in reality, I think it’s wonderful that they’re asking

squeal at the cuteness of

lift Ian off my lap, standing up. The boys move to the other side of the room, talking softly, and I take Victor’s

though, he stops and calls to Ian and Alvin.

turn to

a little bit, until we’re ready, let’s all keep this a secret, okay? A

nod eagerly, glad to be in on

love you!” I call to them as they turn away. Victor and I head out the door, me pressed to

hallway, burying his head again against my shoulder. I give a little squeal